Anne Burrell’s Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Chorizo and Manchego
Ingredients
- 12 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/2 pound Manchego, cut into 12 rectangle logs
- 3 links fresh chorizo, casings removed
- 6 slices of bacon, cut in half
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Make an incision lengthwise in each date, open it up, and flatten.
Break each chorizo link into quarters. Form each piece of chorizo into a log that is the length of the date and squish it onto the Manchego. Close the date around the filling and squeeze to secure. Wrap each date with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
Place all the dates on a baking sheet, transfer to the oven, and roast for 7-8 minutes or until the bacon is starting to crisp up. Turn over the dates and roast the dates for another 7-8 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the syrup and vinegar.
Remove the dates from the oven and brush them with the syrup-vinegar mixture. Return the dates to the oven and bake another 1-2 minutes or until they are crackly and sticky. Remove from the oven and let rest for a minute, remove the toothpicks, and serve.